terrapinsanity.com

The Chronicle has a thoughtful essay by a Michigan faculty member who reports far less than satisfying experiences with use of an on-line component in her classes. It is worth your attention. She correctly observes that the jury is still out on the question of what techniques work for internet-based instruction, but it should give us pause as at UM there is increased pressure to move on-line. The bean counters in particular love it, since it leverages faculty time across a broader assortment of students, i.e. it costs less. The present essay should make us wonder if one gets the same outcome.